QOTD: McGrattan's future with the Flames

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

I suddenly wonder if McGrats would be more than happy to be sent to Addy AHL to mentor/help train our farm if the talent/roles in Calgary pushes him out. Hell, moving him into player development in Addy before being brought up here might really allow both our teams to grow better.

Highly doubt it. He knows his role, and knows that it is not an every-night role.

Also, he still travels with the team and is in the dressing room (where he is, by all accounts, a great presence). He is still an important part of the team, even as the 14th forward.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Gotta say, the people voting "following elimination of fighting" are voting based only on wishful thinking.

It says elimination of the fightER. Not fighting. I don't think fighting is going anywhere, but I think the end of pure heavyweights has already started.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Highly doubt it. He knows his role, and knows that it is not an every-night role.

Also, he still travels with the team and is in the dressing room (where he is, by all accounts, a great presence). He is still an important part of the team, even as the 14th forward.

For now, yes.

But I mean in like, maybe 2-3+ years when he is in his mid/later 30s and he has already stamped half the kids with a Mcgrit style/tool that renders him unnecessary. IMO his biggest starry eyed pupils would probably be Monahan and Bennett and in 2-3 years would have learned all of McGrat's tricks (Not that it's supposed to be extensive).

[Ben_in_Canada]

He was dressed for warm up but didn't play Tuesday.
My guess would be that there wasn't anyone on the Lightning Hartley was concerned enough about to need the nuclear deterrent McGrattan is.
I'm sure he'll get enough games against western teams.

[Coach]

I don't think any of the options fit my view. I don't think anyone has replaced McGrattan's role necessarily, just that his role is needed less. And we have better players to play in his stead if his expertise is not deemed valuable for the game.

I do however think the McGrattan will stay with the Flames for the forseable future. I think that management values his attitude and leadership. And I think it's worth a close-to league minimum salary and a contract to have that on the team.

[zukes]

It's the 4th (voted for this) and 5th option, 5th being hasn't been needed for the super heavyweight class yet.

What I do know is that by having him and Bollig dressed, then having neither see the ice in the third against Columbus probably cost the Flames a point. They dominated that period but the guys were running on fumes by the end by going with 10 forwards. I was at the game and you could see it.

I love McGratten, but I suspect his time as an every day player has come to an end. Hartley will pick and choose when he is needed barring injuries.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by codynw

It says elimination of the fightER. Not fighting. I don't think fighting is going anywhere, but I think the end of pure heavyweights has already started.

I'm aware of what was said, thanks. The point remains - and which you ignored - that it would require a breathtaking lack of awareness of everything Burke et al have said to actually think the Flames aren't dressing McGrattan because they are joining the anti-fighter movement. Those aren't votes based on what they think the Flames are doing. Those are votes based on what they wish the Flames were doing.

[AcGold]

He'll dress against Boston and Vancouver, won't dress for cup contenders that play skill games. He's still the heavyweight champ in the league and anytime the other team needs to back off of our Gaudreau's and Monahan's he'll play.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I'm aware of what was said, thanks. The point remains - and which you ignored - that it would require a breathtaking lack of awareness of everything Burke et al have said to actually think the Flames aren't dressing McGrattan because they are joining the anti-fighter movement. Those aren't votes based on what they think the Flames are doing. Those are votes based on what they wish the Flames were doing.

Calgary clearly isn't joining the anti-fighter movement completely (I never said they were) but it looks to me like they're going in the direction of having fighters who can take a shift without being a liability.

[mile]

Still like him as the 13th/14th forward and would rather have him sit in that spot for cheap over a young player.

[Galakanokis]

I am a huge Big Ern fan but the speed in today's game has really passed him by. A 4th line of Bollig-Bouma-Jooris is great. Good speed, very tough and the ability to PK and slide up the lineup if need be, especially Jooris. McGrattan, unfortunately offers very little of this.

Sadly, I think he goes the way of the BizNasty next season.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

None of the options in the poll made sense to me. The team is slightly better matched against most teams with guys like Jooris or Jones in the lineup. McGrattan will be in against a lot of the big physical teams: L.A., Anaheim, St. Louis, Boston etc. He just won't be in against the smaller skilled teams on a regular basis. He's always been an extra forward and can play ok for short stretches, but he's not going to win you many games unless you need to protect the kids. It hasn't been necessary so far, but if Gaudreau starts producing a lot you know McGrattan will be a necessary deterrent to the punks of the league.

I think you could argue that he's been replaced a little by Bollig and Engelland, but it's more that there really aren't many pure enforcers left in the league, so his role is being diminished league wide. I would say it's a mix of the middle two options, but neither one exclusively with one that isn't mentioned (match ups).

[drewtastic]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I don't think any of the options fit my view. I don't think anyone has replaced McGrattan's role necessarily, just that his role is needed less. And we have better players to play in his stead if his expertise is not deemed valuable for the game.

I do however think the McGrattan will stay with the Flames for the forseable future. I think that management values his attitude and leadership. And I think it's worth a close-to league minimum salary and a contract to have that on the team.

Excellent post!

I think this is exactly what's happening. McGrattan has also looked slower so far, and, with the up-tempo style Hartley wants, Mcgrattan has to be used more sparingly.

Keeping him around for his leadership and attitude is a good idea, and they can always throw him into games against bigger teams when a 'bang and crash' game plan is needed.

[BurningSteel]

Where's the "We need him for when we play Vancouver" option?

[btimbit]

As much as I love the guy wouldn't be surprised if this was his last year here. He's the best in his role, but his role is needed less and less unfortunately. Great locker room guy but is that enough to keep him?

Some people suggesting he stays with the team in some sort of mentor or development role. My guess is of he doesn't play somehwre else he'll join the NHL substance abuse program. He's been doing some course for becoming an abuse counseller I think and seems to want to really help others get off the path he was on

[t0rrent98]

Mcgrats needs to play more so Monahan can get his offensive back... :P.

[Vinny01]

He is not as good as Bouma or Bolig who are the current 4th line wingers

[JonDuke]

I just hope he stays. Love the energy he brings when he's in the mix.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I just think the Flames have not needed him as much as they did last season. This team has more toughness now with Bollig (though he isn't the greatest of fighters) and Engelland (better fighter, but not on the level of heavyweights).

McGrattan is the best fighter in the league, but there are few guys left that can really fight him. Flames are simply using him as they need him, but I don't think a team run by Burke and Treliving (seems that Treliving is of a like mind with Burke) will go without an enforcer. They will be one of the last teams - maybe the very last team - to go without one I am guessing.

Also, I think there is a bit of history with the Flames and having a 'tough guy' in the lineup. You had years of Hunter (can anyone argue that his contributions weren't enormous?), McCarthy (toughest in the league for a few years, though turned into a primadonna somewhat thinking he was a better hockey player than what reality showed), Goddard (Hand of God!), Oliwa, Berube (huge fan favorite as well), Belak, Boughner, Grimson, Churla, Ivanans (though that hardly worked out), PL3, McCarty, Nazarov, Peluso, Roy (probably my least favorite), Simon, Westgarth, and probably a few others I am just forgetting.

The Flames have a long history with toughness and enforcers. That is part of the 'brand' in Calgary - that "Black and Blue" hockey. Feaster even acknowledged this, and Burke definitely has.

Calgary wants to remain a team that has lots of toughness (drafting Kanzig and Smith for the future, as well as Ferland already drafted) reinforces this. Enforcers are a different level than these three prospects, but given the history of enforcers and the Flames, I would bet Calgary would be one of the last teams - if not the very last - to stop carrying one.

The 'trouble' with a good enforcer is that they aren't crazy meat-heads out there (like Gillies!) so their role is more and more minimized. Nobody is going to expect McGrattan to jump a guy that doesn't want to fight, or do something dirty (like Lucic), and I don't think anybody would want to see that happen anyways, even against a heated rival. However, I should hope that McGrattan dresses for the two games vs Boston to make sure they keep Lucic and "sneaky elbows" Chara a bit more honest, and other teams like that who do have very tough players, even if they don't carry an 'enforcer'.

If there was ever a team in the Western Conference that has historically been 'Philly-like', it has been Calgary. Tough to vote on this one since option 4 is probably the best approximation as to what I think, but the best option for me would be: 'He hasn't been needed as much', but Bollig hasn't replaced him in my opinion. McGrattan is a 'deterrent', while I don't think you can really say that about Bollig (or Engelland, who I think is tougher actually).

[Bingo]

I think the Flames finally have it right, in that they ice a fourth line that may not play a tonne 5 on 5, but have other roles that are important within the game.

Stajan as the veteran center that can move up the roster in an injury pinch and kill penalties.

Bouma the tough as nails PK guy that can also play third line in a pinch.

Bolig hasn't been great, but he certainly plays a better 5 on 5 shift then McGrattan.

Just like that you have 12 forwards without really wasting a spot on a role that seems to be less needed. We haven't seen McGrattan since Columbus, which was the game story where I called out Hartley for dressing two similar guys in game 5 of a 6 game road trip with the team tired and sick as hell.

Not arrogant enough to think he's listening to me, but maybe he's thinking the same way.